Forty years at Dale!!!!!!!
Realising that our Trust Director and Former Players Organiser was about to celebrate 40 years with the Dale, plus having sight of his playing contract when he first came (Was he over paid we ask!), we asked him to jot down some notes as it forms a link from the past, his playing days that is and now, as involved as ever.
So we got him delving through some old bits and bats (his words) round his house, and it’s then he found his professional contract signed on 1st July 1985 at Dale, which saw him make 32 appearances before having to retire through injury.
“It was not the way I wanted to stop playing” said Keith “but the injury simply was not going to get better”.
However, sometimes good things can come from disaster, and in this instance, it did. Keith again, ” It lead to me setting up the extremely influential Football in the Community (Community Trust) which I was involved with for over 35 years and also I was nvolved at the Club as Centre of Excellence (Academy) Director, Youth Team Assistant Manager/Coach, First Team Scout and now, I presently running the popular Rochdale AFC Former Players Association (see HERE) as Dale Supporters Trust Board member, organising match day hospitality presentations, see HERE
We askd Keith about some of the highlights (appart from being a Trust member obviously)
Highlights over the many years has been seeing local youngsters, including es-Rochdale players, Ethan Brierley, Jamie Allen and Fabio Tavares, coming through community activities to progress at the Club’s Academy plus Keira Walsh’s initial development in football through the efforts of Siobhan McElhinney (Community Trust Assistant Manager) at Healey Primary School joint fun/coaching programmes with the Trust.Other memorable moments are being part of the Rochdale Freedom of the Borough award through the Club’s community involvement, EFL North West Community Club of the Year Award,
PFA Division One Community Player of the Year (Calvin Andrew) but mainly overseeing numerous programmes benefiting the Rochdale and surrounding communities through engagement in health, education, diversity and equality.
And so for the future?
Absolutely enjoyed my time at the Dale and to continue for much longer!!!!
